A new survey reveals more than quarter of a million British parents have cut short a family holiday because they felt their children were unwelcome or accommodation was ill-equipped for their needs.

The research, commissioned by Luxury Family Hotels and conducted by Markettiers 4DC, surveyed 1,005 UK parents - half of whom had children under the age of five.

Around a quarter of parents surveyed complained about a lack of evening activities and 23 per cent had experienced unfriendliness towards their children.

One in five said menus were unsuitable for children and 13 per cent complained there was no children's cutlery or tableware.

Other concerns included unsuitable bedding and a lack of kids' clubs or nanny services.

The survey also found one in three parents believed foreign hotels were more accommodating to children than those at home.

Nigel Chapman of Luxury Family Hotels said: "It's about time UK hotels sat up and took notice as the industry as a whole clearly still has a long way to go to prove that young guests are as welcome as their parents and recognise how important that is."

The Smith & Family website, run by the people behind Mr & Mrs Smith and currently in the beta stage, is a new hotel booking website dedicated to family-friendly stays.